Filming has stopped this weekend for "Doctor Who" so that star David Tennant can attend his mother's funeral.
Helen McDonald died Sunday in Dykebar, Paisley, Scotland, after a long battle with cancer, according to the Paisley Daily Express. She was 67.
Tennant, who has been filming the third annual Christmas special of "Doctor Who" with Kylie Minogue, was off most of the week to mourn his mother's loss, before returning to the set in Cardiff on Thursday. However, he will take this weekend off as well as he continues to mourn McDonald's loss.
McDonald was first diagnosed with cancer in 2002, and had spent the last 18 months on chemotherapy, according to the newspaper. She was a volunteer for Arthritis Care and other charities, and was the founding member of Accord Hospice, where she was taken care of in her final days.
"Helen would want all the the other people who did so much for Accord to be remembered," said Tennant's father, the Rev. Sandy McDonald, after revealing his wife had planned her own funeral and wanted to honor the people at the hospice. "She got so much out of life, and she wanted to give so much."
Besides the 10th Doctor, McDonald is survived by two other children, Karen and Blair, as well as grandchildren Rachel, Matthew, Alexandra, Maisie and Hannah.
The funeral will take place at Renfrew North with the Very Rev. James Simpson -- a chaplain to Queen Elizabeth II -- officiating.
Filming is expected to resume next week for the Christmas special which will premiere on Dec. 25 on BBC One. The fourth season of "Doctor Who" will air in early 2008, with the third season currently airing Friday nights in the United States on SciFi Channel.
Thanks to Raissa for the tip.
About the Author:
Michael Hinman is the founder and site coordinator for Airlock Alpha and the entire BlipNetwork. He owns Quantum Global Media Inc., the parent corporation of the BlipNetwork. He's a print journalist by day, and lives in Tampa, Fla.
